Pedal for musical instruments.



W. I. KIRK.

PEDAL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION man JUNE 26,1914.

1,173,81 1 Patented Feb. 29,1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT onnron. I

WALTER I. KIRK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 LYON & HEALY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PEDAL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29,1916.

Application filed June 28, 1914. Serial No. 847,409.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IVALTER I. KIRK, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovementin Pedals for Musical Instruments, of which the following isa full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to pedals, and especially to pedals for musicalinstruments such, for example, as harps or other similar instruments.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a. simple, practicaland advantageous construction of pedal of the general class specified.

Another object is to secure an easy and comfortable touch for the footin using the pedal, and to prevent the foot from slipping.

A further object is to secure durability and simplicity, and also topermit replacement of a worn portion of the pedal, so as to increase thelength. of life of the pedal proper, and for other purposes.

Further objects of the invention are to secure a high degree ofefiiciency and excellency in construction and to secure the foregoingand other desirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a harp having a pedal embodyingmy invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of said pedal; Fig. 3 isa cross-section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 3; Fig. 41 is a top plan of anend of the pedal with a detachable cap thereon, and Fig. 5 is a top viewof a portion of the cap.

The pedal which I show herein for carrying out my invention involves atop portion 1 and downwardly-extending side portions 2 and 3, which sideportions are preferably united at the end of the pedal by a band portion4 conveniently formed continuously and integrally with the side portions2 and 3.

A cap 5 is mounted upon the outer end portion of the pedal, as shown inFig. 2. Said cap 5 is preferably made at least in part of elastic orcushion-like material such as rubber, and is also preferably detachablysecured to the end portion of the pedal, so that the cap forms acushionlike abutment or part upon which the foot may rest and againstwhich it may press, and also that this cap may be detached and replacedby a new one if desired.

In the construction which I show herein, the cap 5 is preferably madewith a base portion 6 of metal and an upper portion 7 of cushionlikematerial, such as rubber or rubber composition, or the like. The baseportion 6 fits closely upon the end portion of the pedal, and as apreferred arrangement in order to maintain the cap firmly in position,the metal base portion 6 is made with side flanges 8, 8, so that saidportion 6 substantially incloses and'fits snugly upon and around the endportion of the pedal. As a preferred construction also, the end portionof the pedal is depressed as at 9, and the cap member or base 6 is alsocorrespondingly eX- tended downward, so that satisfactory fit and anabutment is formed as between the cap and pedal, as well shown in Fig.2. The cap may be made detachable from the pedal in any preferred way,but as a convenient arrangement I provide the end portion of the pedalwith an aperture and pass a screw 10 through the same and into anaperture in the metal member 6 of the cap 5. The head of this screw 10is underneath the pedal and so out of sight, although it is readilyaccessible whenever desired, to loosen and remove the cap.

The member 6 is preferably provided with punched-out apertures 11, 11(Fig. 5), so that a firm engagement between the member 6 and the cushionportion 7 will be secured. As a preferred arrangement, the cushionmember 7 is made of rubber properly vulcanized upon the member 6.

Thus, it will be seen that the cap may be easily and inexpensivelyconstructed and may be quickly applied in a detachable manner to the endportion of the pedal; also. that when so applied, the cap forms acushion which is very comfortable to the foot and also aflordssatisfactory engagement for the foot so that the latter will not slip.Furthermore, it will be seen that the cap will have a firm andsubstantial grip on the pedal, so that it will not be readily displaced,and that when desired to remove it for replacement by a new cap or forother purposes, it may be quickly detached and then the old or anothersimilar cap replaced.

It will be understood that changes and against the sides of the pedal,said flange conforming in shape to the side walls of the pedal, and acushion portion secured to modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is 1. A pedal provided with a cap device s-omprising a basemember constructed to fit the end portion of the pedal, said pedalhaving end portions which are disposed in different planes with relationto each other,

and a cushion portion secured to said base portion above the same, and ascrew passing through the pedal and into the base portion of the capdevice.

2. A pedal provided with a cap device comprising a base portion adaptedto'fitthe end portion of the pedal and having downwardly-extendingflanges adapted to fitand mounted above said base portion, and means fordetachably securing said cap device to the end portion of the pedal.

3. A pedal provided with a cap device comprising a base memberconstructed to lit the end portion of a pedal, said base portion beingprovided intermediate its ends with a shouldered portion, a cushionprovided upon said base member, and the upper side portion of saidcushion being comparatively flat.

' t. A pedal provided with a cap device Copies of this patent may beobtained for ber constructed to flt the end portion of a pedal, saidmember having a downwardly depending flange, forming an opening in theunderside of said member, said opening corresponding to the size ofthepedal, and said flange being open at an end, and means for securingsaid cap to said pedal.

6. A pedal provided with a cap device comprising a base memberconstructed to fit the end portion of the pedal, said base member beingchanneled and open at an end, the respective ends of said base memberbeing disposed in different planes with relation to each other, acushion portion provided upon said base member, the under side of saidcushion conforming to the upper side of saidbase portion,.and the upperside portion of said cushion being flat.

7. A cap device for pedals comprising a metallic base portion, a cushionprovided upon said base portion, said base portion having upwardlyextending portions which extend into the cushion. and a downwardlyextending flange provided upon said .base portion which extend beyondsaid cushion.

8 A cap device for pedals comprising a metallic base portion havingadownwardly extending flange provided upon an end and both sides, acushion providedupon said base portion, said .base portion beingapertured to receive a screw and having upwardly' extending portionsengaging said cushion. v

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 22nd day of June,A. 11,1914.

WVALTER I. KIRK.

vVitnesses:

A, MILLER BELFIELD, HAZEL ANN JONES.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

